Superman: Legacy has indirectly caused the cancellation of Superman & Lois. Starring Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch, the CW series has been considered one of the best Superman adaptations. However, the series faced an unexpected end ahead of the release of its fourth season.
CW’s Brad Schwartz shared insight into the abrupt cancellation of the show in a recent interview with The Wrap, as he revealed that Warner Bros. canceled the series to eliminate potential competition for James Gunn’s upcoming film.
James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy Caused Superman & Lois’ Cancellation
The CW network premiered the DC-inspired superhero show Superman & Lois in 2021, and the series successfully continued for three seasons, with the fourth and final season of the show expected to be released this fall.
CW’s Brad Schwartz shared in a recent interview with The Wrap that it has been one of the most successful shows on the network. However, despite its notable success, it was announced in November 2023 that the upcoming season 4 will be its final season.
The abrupt cancellation of the show was surprising for fans. During his interview with The Wrap, CW’s president of entertainment, Brad Schwartz also shared that the decision to cancel the popular superhero series came from Warner Bros.
“They don’t want a competing Superman product in the marketplace,” he said, suggesting that the studio does not want any potential competition for James Gunn’s upcoming movie Superman: Legacy. However, the decision to prioritize James Gunn’s upcoming film over popular projects raises significant questions, particularly when compared to the treatment of other characters like Batman.
Fans Question Warner Bros. Double Standards For Prioritizing Superman: Legacy
Fans of the CW series Superman & Lois have expressed their frustration with Warner Bros.’ decision to prioritize James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy over the beloved show. Digital creator and producer Adam Hlavac voiced his disappointment on Twitter, asserting that Superman & Lois stands as one of the finest superhero series.
“This is dumb,” he said, criticizing the decision to cancel the show while allowing concurrent Batman and Joker projects to proceed, highlighting what he sees as a double standard in treatment. Hlavac’s tweet succinctly captures the sentiments of many fans who are unhappy with the cancellation of Superman & Lois in favor of Superman: Legacy.
They question why Warner Bros. is seemingly eager to cancel non-DCU projects while simultaneously supporting other Elseworld projects like Matt Reeves’ Batman and Todd Phillips’ Joker. Moreover, fans have pointed out historical precedents that contradict Warner Bros.’ current actions.
Meanwhile, Matt Reeves' Batman and Joker, Todd Phillips' Joker, and the DCU versions of Batman and Joker will all exist at the same time?
Come on, man, SUPERMAN & LOIS is one of the best Superman projects out there. This is dumb. https://t.co/XcV3KDo9LB
— Adam Hlaváč (@adamhlavac) February 17, 2024
WB and Gunn just don't want a repeat of 2006 where they had SUPERMAN RETURNS In theaters and it didn't click with audiences. Meanwhile Smallville was having its best season to date and we all agreed that Welling was the better Superman. pic.twitter.com/oQAcbbxKDY
— Anthony Perez (@Darth_mischief) February 17, 2024
@JamesGunn I’m very excited for your Superman Legacy sir, BUT in a world with great Superman alternative stories like Superman & Lois & animated My Adventures with Superman, can they not still continue in an elseworld capacity possibly?
— Samuel Leggett Jr (@SuperSel0320) February 17, 2024
🤦 Totally agree, this decision is dumb
They have an amazing ongoing series
Characters that connect with the audience
Stories that deliver the feels, intensity, and excitementI love Superman & Lois, I wish they could let it continue
— kadosho (@kadosho) February 17, 2024
Because G*nn isnt directing any of those Batman movies, hes directing a Superman film and hes very insecure thats why.
— 🦋 (@softcavilly) February 17, 2024
Batman gets treated with such love while superman gets pushed to the side. Superman is the definitive superhero. Many people around the world think of Superman first when thinking of a superhero.
— Carlos Dávila (@_carlosss_13) February 18, 2024
They highlighted Smallville, a previous Superman project, continued to air even after the release of Superman Returns, suggesting that such cancellations are not standard practice. However, others also shared how the film did not perform well while Smallville was doing pretty great, suggesting that the studio might want to prevent the same thing from happening again.
In essence, fans are questioning the consistency of Warner Bros.’ decision-making process and expressing their dissatisfaction with what they perceive as unfair treatment towards Superman & Lois in comparison to other DC projects.
Superman: Legacy is set to release on July 11, 2025.
Superman & Lois is available on Max. Season 4 is expected to release in Fall 2024.
